Washington unemployment holds at 6.3%

The state added an estimated 6,700 jobs in March and the unemployment rate is holding steady at 6.3 percent.

In numbers released Wednesday by the state Employment Security Department, officials said that the rate matches February’s jobless numbers, which had been revised down from an original estimate of 6.4 percent.

Officials said that during the one-year period ending in March, nearly 61,000 jobs have been added statewide, including more than 18,000 since the start of the year. The biggest job gains in March were seen in professional and business services, like office workers. Manufacturing also saw a boost, as did the retail sector, private education and health services and construction.

Job losses were seen in government, wholesale trade, financial activities, and other services.

In February, Grays Harbor unemployment increased to 12.3%. With an increase of 0.7% from January, the number is still lower than last year when the rate was 13.9%.

County by county unemployment for March is expected to be released April 22.